Letter 08

A new month, a new letter! So far, there’s been lots of little coincidences with this series. This is worm’s first feature on the envelope, who is often a companion to other ‘A Broken Apple’ Characters. Please find the 8th contribution of the Edged In Black Project below,

“ Who is the ghost in your story? ”…

My dog died on my birthday!
No, I’m not kidding.

When he first came into my life I was terrified of him. That haunted me. In that puppy’s place I saw a wolf seconds away from ripping my heart out of my chest. Took a lot of work, but we grew on each other. I learned the worst he was capable of was eating a sock. We grew up together- birthdays, Halloweens, Christmases and the cycle continued.

I’m a bit embarrassed that I strutted through to the living room that day expecting to be the center of attention and instead found out today the dog would die. I promised myself him, and him that the day he goes I’d hold him. I read somewhere in their final moments they look for you at the vet. That day with his head was in my lap I stroked him into his peaceful dreams..

When I got in the car to go home I saw something. As we drove away. a long white line flew up into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.

A couple weeks later I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. That is not the movie to watch when you’re grieving.

Now despite the fact this came out in 2023, I don’t wanna be that guy- so here’s your spoiler warning for the movie. I’ll put little stars next to the spoiler bits so you can skip if you want.

Your welcome :)

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ SPOILERS.

Rocket Raccoon is injured, so they rush him onto the ship to try save his life. Nebula, I think, declares “There’s fluid in his lungs!” And my eyes burn because that’s how he died..

Rocket glimpses the afterlife and meets his old friend Lyla, who tells him “The sky is beautiful, and it’s forever!”

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ SPOILERS.

In my whole 25 years of life, that is the only time I’ve cried at a film.. For a while after his death I felt immense guilt because I didn’t want him in the beggining.. I would cry and shake whenever he was in the room, then after that day I would cry and shake when he wasn’t.. Yet may argue my grief stricken brain manufactured a series of events to comfort me,. but I believe in him,. I believe in it.. Every little moment is the ghost in my story saying hello.

Hello, I’m okay. I’m at peace.

Three years later, and now my sister has a dog. From day one, thanks to him — I don’t waste time with fear.

And every single night there’s been a star in the sky that shines just a little brighter.

“The sky is beautiful and it’s forever.”